Former Senator Chuck Hagel, nominated on Monday by President Obama to be the next Secretary of Defense, would be “likely to favor a sizable drawdown in Afghanistan, more frugal spending at the Pentagon and extreme caution when contemplating the use of force in places like Iran or Syria,” if confirmed, Reuters reports.

The Obama administration is set to draw down the US military presence in Afghanistan by the end of 2014. But top military general’s have insisted on keeping anywhere from 6,000-20,000 troops in Afghanistan for the foreseeable future, perhaps until 2024.